THE first UK sale to include fully organic lambs attracted plenty of interest and a virtual total clearance at Harrison and Hetherington's Borderway Mart, Carlisle, on Friday of last week.

The sale, held in conjunction with the Soil Association, attracted an entry of 720 store lambs, all but one pen of which was sold.

Prices went up to £23 for a pen of Cheviots and, while the lambs made a premium, finished organic lamb is selling to £3.50 a kg deadweight.

The auctioneer, Mr Robert Addison, said: "It is a good basis from which to start the sales, although I think they could have commanded a slightly higher premium, considering the prices for finished organic lamb."

Of the 720 sheep forward, 110 were fully organic, the first such lambs to be sold through the ring in the UK. The remainder were from farms converting to organic status.

The Carlisle sale was one of two pilot markets aiming to develop the traditional links between upland and lowland producers. The other is in Brecon, South Wales.

The store sales are intended to provide an outlet for upland organic farmers who are not able to finish their stock, keeping a traditional market open to these producers, who are increasing in number as not all of them are retailers.

The Soil Association, with the support of the Northern Organic Food Initiative, has developed a new range of standards enabling livestock markets to trade in store and breeding stock for the first time.

An inspector attends the pilot sales and future licensed markets will be subject to spot inspections to ensure standards are correctly followed and to check organic certification details.

Initially H&H will hold sales for store sheep, with a further two sales likely next year, although the Soil Association is keen to develop breeding sheep and store cattle sales.